Archive for the ‘News’ category

Bad weather can strike anytime in anywhere. The truth is, even if you drive a well-maintained vehicle with advanced safety features, Mother Nature can still have the upper hand when you’re out on the road. Becoming a better driver doesn’t happen overnight. Getting out and doing it helps, but at times extra is considered necessary. Learning few self-protective driving just may save a person’s life as a driver gets behind the steering wheel. Anti-lock brakes, all-wheel-drive, and electronic stability aids certainly help maintain control under adverse conditions; they are not nearly as important as your good judgment. To help make sure you are at your best in all conditions, we assembled this guide to driving in bad weather, be rain, fog, high winds or extreme heat. Here are some tips if you’re driving in a bad weather:

Rain:

Improve visibility; turn on your lights and defroster. Requires your headlights to be on when your wipers are on.

Avoid sudden moves, try to drive in the tracks of the car ahead, reduce your speed, and allow for additional stopping distance.

Hydroplaning occurs when the tires of your car lose contact with the road and ride up on a wedge of water. Make sure your tires have proper treads and are properly inflated. If you do hydroplane, keep the steering wheel straight; take your foot off the gas. Don’t hit your brakes or try to steer. As you slow, the weight of the car will cause it to settle down onto the road again.

Be very cautious in light rain or mist. Oil and dirt on the roadway surface make driving extra slippery.

Remember, puddles can hide potentially damaging potholes.

Floods:

Do not attempt to drive through flood waters. The water may be deeper than it looks. Two (2) feet of water will carry away most automobiles.

If you happen to drive into an area where water is running swiftly, the force of the current may pull your car to one side. If this happens ease off the gas pedal, but don’t touch the brakes. Then steer away from the swift water.

If your car is caught in a flash flood, get out of your car immediately and move to higher ground.

Fog:

If you see a patch of fog ahead, slow down before you reach it.

Turn on your low beam headlights or fog lights.

Turn on your defroster and windshield wipers.

Be alert for slow moving vehicles and traffic stopped ahead.

In heavy fog, roll all your windows down. You may actually hear other cars before you see them.

Thunderstorm:

It is safest to stay in your car when lightning is present. If you have to park, do so in an open area away from trees.

Watch for flooded roadways.

If you are driving after a thunderstorm, be vigilant for downed branches and power lines or other debris lying in the road.

Hail associated with thunderstorms can hamper visibility and may shatter windshields.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered a Japanese national wanted by authorities in his country for alleged car theft deported from the Philippines.

Hideo Ozawa, who is now detained at the BI center in Bicutan, Taguig City will be deported once the Immigration board of commissioners issues the order for his summary deportation, Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said.

David added that Ozawa will also be placed on the Immigration black list and banned from re-entering the Philippines.

Ozawa was arrested on August 3 after he turned himself in to the Japanese Embassy in Pasay City, said BI intelligence chief Ma. Antonette Bucasas-Mangrobang. He then expressed his intention to be deported to Japan, Mangrobang said.

He is now an undocumented alien since his passport expired on August 3, 2010.

Ozawa, along with several other suspects, allegedly stole over 10 cars from a number of parking lots in Wakayama prefecture between October and November 2005, Tokyo Interpol officials said.

“They allegedly hid the stolen cars inside a warehouse in Aridagawa town, Arida district, Wakayama, which was raided by Japanese authorities,” Mangrobang said, citing information from the Japanese Embassy.

Ozawa left Japan for Manila on March 11, 2006, after learning of his impending arrest, records showed.

The Yuasa summary court in Wakayama, where Ozawa was charged with larceny, issued a warrant for his arrest on March 24, 2011.

MANILA, Philippines – A huge fire broke out in a residential area in West Rembo, Makati City, this afternoon.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said in its advisory that the fire broke out past 2 p.m.

The fire reached the second alarm by 2:55 p.m.

A radio report, meanwhile, said that the fire is already gutting several houses inside the Teachers’ Compound along Kalayaan Street in West Rembo.

The report said that fire authorities have raised the 5th alarm as of 3:20 p.m.

Fire investigators have yet to determine the origin of the fire.

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PROTECT YOUR VALUED PROPERTY FROM UNFORESEEN INCIDENT.

FIRE INSURANCE WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION IN UNEXPECTED INCIDENT MENTIONED ABOVE, THINK OF INSURING YOUR PROPERTY AGAINST FIRE & LIGHTNING COVERAGE BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, FINANCIALLY, WHEN SUCH ACCCIDENT ARISES!

A fire­ extinguisher is an absolute necessity in any home or office. Fire extinguisher can be a lifesaver. One aspect of fire safety is to place fire extinguishers throughout the house so that no matter where the fire starts, an extinguisher will be near at hand. There should be one in the kitchen, garage, workshop, basement, and near any sleeping areas. Additionally, there should be at least one fire extinguisher on each floor.

Kinds of Fire extinguisher

Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish. Geometric symbol (green triangle)

Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish. Geometric symbol (red square)

Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires – the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive. Geometric symbol (blue circle)

Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating – they are designed for class D fires only. Geometric symbol (Yellow Decagon)

Class K fire extinguishers are for fires that involve cooking oils, trans-fats, or fats in cooking appliances and are typically found in restaurant and cafeteria kitchens. Geometric symbol (black hexagon)

What Fire Extinguisher Is Right For You?

You might be tempted to go out and buy large extinguishers rated for all three fire-types of residential fires, but in most cases, that is not your best option. First, large extinguishers can be hard to handle, especially by younger children and the elderly. Second, many fire extinguishers, especially ones rated for Types A, B and C, contain highly corrosive chemicals. While it’s nice to be able to put out a small fire in your home office, you might be less thrilled when you discover that the chemicals in the extinguisher destroyed the very electronic equipment you were seeking to protect. Most home-use extinguishers contain either halon or various dry chemicals. Halon, a very effective Type B, C extinguisher, is being phased out because of concerns about its effect on the ozone layer.

For most, a Type B, C extinguisher with non-corrosive chemicals is your best bet. After all, there is nearly always a nearby source of water, which is a very effective Type A extinguisher. However, even with non-corrosive extinguisher chemicals, it is important to clean up all the powder after a discharge because the powder can cause short circuits in electronic equipment.

Using a Fire Extinguisher

Always follow the specific instructions on the label of your fire extinguisher. In most instances these instructions will include some variation of P.A.S.S.:

Pull- The first step is to pull the pin (it usually has the inspection tag attached to it) that prevents the handle from being squeezed.

Aim- The second step is to aim the spray nozzle, or if attached the hose nozzle, at the fire. Aim low at the base of the fire.

Squeeze- The third step is to squeeze the handle to spray the contents. Remember a standard fire-extinguisher has less than 30 seconds of spray time.

Sweep- The final step is to sweep back and forth as you spray the base of the fire.

The Most Important Aspect of Fire Safety Is Being Prepared

Fire extinguishers are only effective at the birth of a fire. Within seconds, or at most, minutes, most fires will outstrip even a large fire extinguisher’s dousing capacity. There is no time to read long and often convoluted instructions. In addition, most fire extinguishers discharge for only 8 to 12 seconds. That is not much time if you are confused about how to hold it and where to spray. For this reason, it is important that you conduct drills that give older children and every adult an opportunity to become familiar with extinguishers and their use.

Often the best way to accomplish this is to incorporate the drill into an annual tradition such as Fourth of July, Halloween, or Thanksgiving. After reviewing the extinguisher instructions, start a small fire in a barbecue, fire pit, or metal trash can and use an extinguisher to douse it. It can be an exciting and life saving addition to your tradition.

Use the same occasion to make sure that all your extinguishers are visible, clean, and fully charged. Most extinguishers have a small gauge or a pressure-test pin. Larger units can be recharged by professional fire extinguisher companies found in the yellow pages. Smaller ones often aren’t rechargeable and should be discarded and replaced.

It may be beneficial for you to have a fire safety inspection done by a professional in your area. He or she may be able to give you some additional tips on fire safety, and should be able to identify potential problem areas that might become an issue during an emergency.

Proper Extinguisher Placement

Fire extinguishers should be mounted or placed in a highly visible location 3.5 to 5 feet above the floor, out of the reach of small children. They should not be too close to potential fire locations such as stoves or trashcans or a fire may prevent you from getting to the extinguisher. In addition, fire extinguishers are under pressure and should not be located near any heat sources such as radiators or vents. In case of fire, you do not want to move away from avenues of escape in order to reach the extinguisher, so place the extinguisher near or en route to an exit.

Inspect and Maintain Fire Extinguisher

Inspect your fire extinguisher at least once per month. Check the pressure gauge and make sure the locking pin is secure. Check the hose to make sure it is in good condition and there are no obstructions that will prevent you from putting out a fire.

Walk around the property. Make sure the fire extinguishers are mounted in easily accessible places and near locations where a fire is most likely to occur.

Recharge the extinguisher once it has been used. Any use, even for a few seconds, will cause a loss of pressure that will affect future performance if it is not recharged and serviced. This should be done quickly to make sure you have it ready when needed.

Filipino doesn’t realize that home fires are the single most common disaster in our country. In fact, each year fire kills more Filipino citizens than all other natural disasters combined. However, most people aren’t aware of this because house fires are “silent disasters,” seldom receiving the same publicity as typhoon, floods and earthquakes.

Fire accident can strike anywhere at any time. If is had spread, fire can destroy anything that is nearby. Sometimes due to careless behavior of people many houses catch fire every year resulting in loss of property and lives. You must also have heard news of houses catching fire causing irreparable loss and you will definitely not want this happen to you. Here are some tips to avoid house fire accident.

Place smoke alarms on every level of your residence. Place them outside bedrooms on the ceiling or high on the wall (4 to 12 inches from ceiling), at the top of open stairways, or at the bottom of enclosed stairs and near (but not in) the kitchen.

Test and clean smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms once every 10 years.

Stop, drop, and roll – until the fire is extinguished. Running only makes the fire burn faster.

To escape a fire, you should:

Check closed doors for heat before you open them. If you are escaping through a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door frame before you open it. Never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test for heat – burning those areas could impair your ability to escape a fire (i.e., ladders and crawling).

Hot Doors:

Do not open. Escape through a window. If you cannot escape, hang a white or light-colored sheet outside the window, alerting fire fighters to your presence.

Cool Door:

Open slowly and ensure fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape route. If your escape route is blocked, shut the door immediately and use an alternate escape route, such as a window. If clear, leave immediately through the door and close it behind you. Be prepared to crawl. Smoke and heat rise. The air is clearer and cooler near the floor.

Crawl low under any smoke to your exit – heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.

Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread of the fire.

Stay out once you are safely out. Do not reenter. Call 9-1-1.

What to do After a Fire

If you detect heat or smoke when entering a damaged building, evacuate immediately.

If you are a tenant, contact the landlord.

If you have a safe or strong box, do not try to open it. It can hold intense heat for several hours. If the door is opened before the box has cooled, the contents could burst into flames.

If you must leave your home because a building inspector says the building is unsafe, ask someone you trust to watch the property during your absence.

Defensive driving can be simply being described as an advanced training course in driving. This course aims to teach the trainee to anticipate any dangerous situation despite the errors of others or in other adverse conditions. Defensive driving aims at reducing the risk of driving.

Good defensive driving instructions inform the driver of all the information necessary for improving the driving skills. Defensive driving takes the responsibility of the driver’s safety, as well as that of the other passenger’s safety. Here are some tips:

1. This is the most important of all defensive driving tips fasten your seat belt.

2. Clean your windows and mirrors if you use lenses clean them to. It is obvious that this could reduce or inhibit you from changing lanes and seeing your blind spot. As a plus you car will appear cleaner.

3. Check your fluid levels weekly by checking your oil, water, transmission fluid and glass cleaner fluid you are maintaining your car and this will make the life of your car a lot longer plus it will give you less problems. I’m sure you check you gas level unless you almost on empty and are afraid to look at the gauge.

4. Usually unless someone else drives your car or you have loose bolts or hinges you don’t have to worry about this but make sure you steering column, mirrors, and seat are in a good driving position for you.

5. Check to see if your car has anti lock brakes or not, you should do this because depending on weather conditions and the type of braking system you have you will have to apply the brake pedal differently.

6. If possible do not drive while under emotional stress such as anger, extreme sadness, or any other emotion that will take you focus off driving. Also do not drive under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs.

7. Be courteous to other drivers. Basically I’m not saying let the line of 25 cars out of the parking lot but if you can make a space for someone trying to get in why not do it, if you were in there shoes or car wouldn’t you want to be let in or whatever.

8. Always prepare yourself for different traffic conditions and weather conditions, check the weather forecast before you leave.

9. Keep all documents that should be in the car in the car.

10. Always use your turn signals to let others know what you’re going to do before you do it. If you blinkers are not working the only place you should be going is to a mechanic or auto parts store to repair them remember to take someone with you to use hand signals.

11. Make sure you have all loose object secured. I have had a family member get seriously injured because their daughters lunch box slide under the pedal on the highway, they were both in the hospital for weeks.

12. Check your cars gauges before moving but after starting the vehicle.

13. Check you tire pressure ever 3-7 days this will take you about 2-4 minutes. While checking the pressure you should look at your tread. If the tread is low this could cause many problems especially as higher speeds if your tread is low and your tire pressure is low you are looking for a trip to the side of the road.

Most drivers have reacted against another driver in some shape or form. It could be as simple as giving a short tap on the horn or as aggressive as winding down the window and yelling at the other driver. Road rage have seen a climbing trend worldwide, in the Philippines alone, more than 250 cases of road rage each year have led to aggravated injuries, some even leading to death. Road rage is primarily caused by impatience towards another driver and in some instances; road rage can be caused by a driver that is overcome with personal problems.

Try to understand the other driver

In all forms or rage and pent up feelings of anger and hostility, the good thing is; road rage can be controlled. Even though releasing pent up anger towards another person who will not retaliate will give you a form of release, keeping your calm can result in a complete feeling of peace at the end of the day, knowing you allowed cooler heads to prevail. To help you control road rage, these ten steps will hopefully lead you towards a better overall driving experience and a happier road user:

Control your breathing

In a moment of adrenaline-filled anger frenzy, you will tend to react according to your emotions and not think clearly. It is crucial to get a grip of yourself and start monitoring your breathing. Taking in multiple deep breaths, holding it for a few seconds and breathing out slowly is a good tip to follow. After your deep breathing, you will notice that your angry reaction was unnecessary and can be easily avoided.

Don’t make an eye contact and speak calmly

At times, you will be the victim of a road rage. Getting angry towards the other driver will only aggravate matters. It could result to fights that may lead to physical injuries. If you are honked or cursed at, even if it was not your fault, try to avoid eye contact at all costs and just wave a hand to show you are apologetic. If the driver gets out of their car and tries to talk to you, lock your doors and try to speak calmly through your window.

Be nice and courteous

Drivers are constantly taught to be courteous and nice during their formative months or years in driving school but most of the lessons get figuratively thrown out of the window. Waving a hand as an appreciative or apologetic gesture can make someone’s day. Smiling, giving an appreciative nod or giving someone the “thumbs up” sign can also ease road rage. Winking at a woman when her boyfriend or husband is beside her is a huge no-no though.

Do not be a vigilante

You are not a traffic police officer. It is not your job to punish others when someone makes a mistake or if they are driving poorly. They could be a new driver or unfamiliar with the location. Cutting them off, tailgating them or gesturing them negatively are just a few instances of how road rage begins. If someone makes a mistake, forgive them and if necessary, overtake them and forget.

Maintain composure

People make mistakes, even you. So before you go ballistic, try to think of your driving faults as well and maintain your composure. Reacting blatantly will only cause you excessive stress and ruin your mood for the whole day.

Listen to the proper music

It is no secret that high tempo and high bass music will only get you worked up. It is why action movies with car chases in them are full of quick tempo music. Listening to these type of music will only make you drive faster and put other road users at risk. Statistics show that young drivers who were arrested over road rage were mostly listening to music high in bass and quick in pace. Tone down your music and pick out a soothing radio station.

The car is not a therapist

Having a bad day will not go away if you drive your car faster, more aggressively and if you are being a jerk to other road users. Taking out other road users with road rage will not solve any problems at work or at home. Always keep in mind; the car is only your mode of transportation, not something you can take out your feelings to.

Sleep and Rest

It is a well known fact; people get really cranky when they lack sleep and rest. To prevent road rage, get enough shut eye and rest. Lack of sleep contributes even more on the road where impatience, anger and annoyance are at every corner. The recommended amount of sleep is eight hours. Coffee does not compensate lack of sleep.

Pause and take a breather

If another driver has left you fuming in rage, the most sensible thing to do would be to pull over to the side of the road and compose yourself. Do not allow your mind to dwell on the actions of the other driver and focus on where you are heading to. Remember to breathe and if you have a bottle of water with you, take a sip or two to calm yourself down.

Even though road rage is increasingly around the world, it is controllable so always ensure that you do not get carried away by your anger when you are driving. Concentrate on the road and where you are going, always!

1. Lock your car doors. Even when you dash something into the house or in office to grab something you forgot, a car can be stolen in seconds.

2. Always take your key with you. Stealing the car is easy and stealing cars in which keys have been left in is even easier.

3. Close the windows. Leaving windows open makes it an easy target for carjackers.

4. Park your car properly. Park in well-lit areas when you are away from home. Car thieves find it comfortable to work on cars that are parked in the dark so they are not spotted. Parking in well-lit areas will also keep you safe from assailants when you are getting in or out.

5. Keep your valuables out of sight. Visible bags, laptops, expensive mobile phones and cash can lure common thieves into car burglars. Make sure that all your valuable items are not visible for potential thieves and burglars.

6. Drive-away car napping is something easily accomplished by professional carjackers. Some just hop in and drive away. But there are cases when victims are made to believe that they were involved in a minor car accident like rear-end car bumping, thus the victim will most likely get off his vehicle for inspection. This situation gives the carjacker a chance to harass or threat the victim into leaving his car.

8. Use a steering wheel lock. Simple yet effective, a steering wheel lock is a two-piece bar that attaches to a vehicle’s steering wheel with two hooks. The concept behind the lock is that if the steering wheel cannot be turned, a thief will be less likely to attempt the steal the vehicle. This is also a good visual deterrent.

9. Always be aware and alert. Make sure that you are aware of what is going on around you to protect yourself and vehicle.

10. Focus at all times. Don’t get caught by lurking carjackers and car thieves preoccupied with your cellphone or lost in thought with something else. Always remember not to get out of your car without your keys along with you.

11.Have your keys ready even as you approach your car. If you pause to look for your keys, you leave yourself vulnerable to an attack.